Loyalty is seen as a virtue, but it can also be a burden. There is a fine line between appreciation and obligation. Many people hesitate to move beyond their mentor because they fear seeming ungrateful or disloyal. They worry that seeking new guidance will be perceived as a rejection of the past. True mentorship is not about ownership. It is about equipping someone to grow beyond where they started.
A great mentor wants to see their mentee succeed, even if that means stepping away. Growth does not erase gratitude. It does not mean you forget the lessons, the support or the influence of your mentor. It just means you are expanding in ways that require different perspectives. Staying in the same dynamic out of guilt is not a sign of respect. It is a limitation you place on yourself.
Instead of feeling guilty, acknowledge the value of the relationship while allowing yourself to move forward. Appreciation and evolution can coexist. Growth does not have to be a rejection of what came before. It can be a continuation of it, built on the foundation of what you have already learned.